How to Make the Perfect Mulled Wine at Home
Mulled wine can be a marmite drink to many, but why is this? Usually because, it has been boiled to death, using poor quality wine, left for far too long, with spices causing it to taste bitter with an overwhelming clove flavour. Here is a simple way to create a tasty, authentic mulled wine, with minimal effort creating a consistent taste everytime.
Firstly, we need to create a Winter Spice Syrup. This syrup is super versatile and can be enjoyed in coffee and cocktails too.​
To Make the Syrup:
500g Sugar / 500ml Water / 2 x Cinnamon sticks / 6 x Cloves / 6 x Allspice berries / 3 x Whole star anise / 1 x Lemon / 1 x Orange
Peel lemon and orange and add peels and juice from the fruit to a saucepan. Add the rest of the ingredients and gently heat until all the sugar is dissolved. Keep on a gentle heat for a further 5 mins, then decant into a jar or sealable container.
Leave for 24 hours to infuse. To speed up the process, seal your container with electrical tape and put in the dishwasher for a couple of cycles.
After 24 hours, remove the spices by sieving out into a bottle.
Keep refrigerated until needed. Dispose of after one month.
Mulled Wine / Mulled Spiced Apple & Cranberry:
When picking your wine, choose unoaked, young and super fruity. Merlot and Cabernet are always a safe bet. Serves 10.
Add two bottles of wine or a litre of apple and cranberry to a saucepan with 150ml of syrup and gently heat. DO NOT BOIL.
Add 100ml of Cognac or Calvadosto to the Mulled Wine to make extra special.
Add 200ml of Gin to the Apple and Cranberry to make a cracking Spiced Gin Punch.
If you have a sweet tooth add more to taste. Once hot, serve and garnish with grated nutmeg and orange peel.
Spiced Old Fashioned:
Christmas in a glass, this is a great twist on the classic Old Fashioned.
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Ingredients - 50ml Whiskey/Rum/Gin
(I recommend a mid-range spirit as you will be adding sugar and spices for taste).
My go to Rum would be a Solera rum like Diplomatico or American Rye Whiskey, such as Rittenhouse or Sazarac.
5 to 10ml syrup depending on taste and 2 dashes of Aromatic bitters.
Prep - Fill a Whiskey tumbler with ice cubes. Add whiskey, syrup, bitters and stir. Top with ice and garnish with orange peel
